About Bobby Hankinson

Hello! I am the Manager, Community Development on the national Community, Learning and Engagement team at Teach For America. I was a journalist before joining the organization, and I am passionate about promoting authentic storytelling. I'm also a pop culture nerd who loves television, comic books and indie music.

We all need a pick me up now and then, and, let’s be honest, we need them Wednesdays more than usual. What better way to lift your spirits than some words of encouragement from Hollywood’s hottest actors and actresses? We’ve long been subscribed to the hilarious tumblr Hey Girl! Teaching Is Hard, so we’re pleased to share some of our favorite posts.

We’ve loved indie rock darlings Sleigh Bells since they burst onto the music scene with their exceptionally LOUD debut album Treats back in 2010. The duo’s mix of sweet pop vocals, heavy metal guitars and hip-hop beats was the perfect music to work out, drive with the windows down or pump you up when you need a boost.

Then we found out singer Alexis Krauss is a 2007 NY alumni and we fell just a little more in love. The band’s latest album Reign of Terrordropped earlier this year, but our favorite track remains “Tell ‘Em” from their debut. Check it out below.

You’ve been there. It’s 11 p.m. on a Sunday night and you’re just trying to find a some help with your unit on the water cycle. You pop over to TFANet, plug in “water cycle” into the search box, and boom, you’re looking at nearly 800 results. By the time you sifted through each one, your students will have graduated college.

OK, so it might not have been the water cycle, but whether it’s poetry, pottery or the Pythagorean Theorem, when you’re looking for resources, you’re after quality, not quantity. Well, we’ve got a little help for you.